Clothes-wringer.



PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

G. T. WILLITS. GLOTHES WRINGER. APPLICATION FILED r213. 25, 1903.

UNITED STATES Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE T. VVILLITS, OF ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY.

CLOTHES-WRINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,941, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed February 25, 1903. Serial No. 145,044-

To all whom it TIMI/y concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. -WILLITS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlantic City, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have invented anew and useful Olothes-Wringer, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in clotheswringers, the object of my invention being the construction of a wringer which will be easy to operate at all times. Many wringers will run smoothly when light articles, such as handkerchiefs, &c., are passed through them, but will become choked when heavy or large articles, such as blankets, are to be wrung. To overcome this difficulty, I provide means whereby the rollers will automatically space themselves and also means whereby the handle can rotate one of the rollers without necessitating complete rotation of the handle and whereby backward movement of the handle will not reverse the rotation of the rollers.

The invention consists in the peculiar features of construction, as fully described hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face view showing my improved wringer in elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section about on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the clamps being in elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of the front of the machine adjacent the handle end, parts being in section. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper journal-box. Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the pawl and ratchet secured to the handle. Fig. 6 is a perspective View showing one side of the pawl. Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the reverse side of the pawl. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the washer.

In carrying out my improvement I employ a wooden frame comprising the brackets A, having the shoulder portions A. These brackets, which form end pieces, are connected by the side strips A and each of said brackets is provided with vertical parallel uprights A and between these uprights is secured the horizontal block A. A projecting metal plate B is secured to the lower ends of the brackets, and clamping members B are pivotally journaled at one end in the projecting end of the plate B and at the other end in the shoulder A, these clamping members being of a common and well-known form.

Arranged between the uprights and resting on the brackets are metal journal-boxes C, having oval-shaped bearings C. Antifrictionrollers C are placed on each side of the bearing, and extending through the journal-box and revolving on the rollers is a shaft D, carrying between the brackets the wringer-roller D and at its outer end a handle E;

A flange D is secured at each end of the roller D and serves as a guide for the clothes, effectually preventing them from working into the journal-boxes.

The upper journal-boxes F have end flanges F, whereby they are adapted to slide on the uprights, and across the top of each are formed two transverse shoulders F Their side plates are centrally enlarged, and each has an ovalshaped opening F through which passes the reduced end F of the wringer-roll F bearing on the antifriction-rollers F. This wringerroll normally rests on the roll D, and as the journal-boxes F are vertically movable between the uprights the top wringer-roll can lift to allow a mass of clothes or a thick blanket to pass between the wringer-rolls. As the top wringer-roll must bear on the clothes with a certain amount of pressure to force the water from same, a curved spring- -metal plate G is provided, the ends of the plate resting on the journal-boxes F between the shoulders F and a binding-screw G, working through the block A*, bears on the bow portion of the spring plate and furnishes means for regulating the tension on the journal-boxes F. The shaft D projects beyond the end of the wringer-frame and is reduced and squared at its outer end. The inner end of the handle is bifurcated, forming two parallel members, which are transversely slotted to receive a pawl E, the inner member having a bore adapted to fit over the non-reduced portion of the shaft D, while the outer member has a larger bore adapted to receive a cylindrical washer E", the washer having a square bore adapted to fit on the squared end of the shaft D and is held by a suitable key E. Between these handle members is secured a ratchet-wheel E", having a square bore and turning with the shaft 1). The pawl E has upright lugs E" at each end, and the pawl is adapted to slide transversely in the slots, its movement being limited by the lugs, which act as stops. A spring E holds the pawl in engagement with the ratchet. This pawl is so constructed that the handle will turn loosely on the shaft and Washer when rotated in one direction and will be locked and rotate the ratchet and shaft when turned in the opposite direction, and in order that the pawl may be adjusted so that the handle can be turned loosely in either direction it is beveled at E on one side adjacent one end, and adjacent the opposite end it is beveled on the reverse side, at E". \Vhen the pawl is in the position shown in Fig. 3, it will turn the ratchet when the handle is rotated in one direction, and by sliding the pawl inward it will turn the ratchet only when the handle is moved in the opposite direction. The clamping member B being pivoted can be turned at an angle, so that the wringer may be clamped to a tub H of any diameter.

An inclined shelf J is secured along the front of the lower wringer-roller and guides the clothes passed through the rollers clear of the tub.

Having thus fully described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a clotheswringer, the combination with two parallel shafts carryin'g rollers and means for elastically engaging the rollers together, of a crank, directly journaled upon one of said shafts, and a ratchet connection between the shaft and crank, the crank being otherwise free to rotate without turning the shaft, so that the shaft may be rotated by a rotary movement of the crank or by a reciprocating movement, the ratchet connection permitting the crank to move the shaft intermittently in the same direction, substantially as set forth.

2. In a clothes-wringer, the combination with two parallel shafts carrying rollers and means for elastically engaging the rollers together, of a crank, directly journaled upon one of said shafts, and a ratchetconnection between the shaft and crank, the crank being otherwise free to rotate without turning the shaft, so that the shaft may be rotated by a rotary movement of the crank or by a reciprocating movement, the ratchet connection permitting the crank to move the shaft intermittently in the same direction, the said ratchet having an adjustable dog for permitting a reverse movement of the shaft, substantially as described.

GEORGE T. W'ILLITS.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES NV. Rioimans, Geo. Mynas. 

